I don't take it, but she does, do you?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 4, 2003

Warn them to cut it out, get your orders for the patient's sake and write them up.

sanakruz, ADN · Sep 5, 2003

No I dont take it.

I dont react. I act.

I will make my feelings clear about any given issues.

I insist on respect and I get it.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2003

Mutual respect they cannot pay me enough for me to be a verbal punching bag.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2003

Putting up with abuse is not "customer service" and it is co dependency at it's worst.

Just say "Codependant no more".

live4today, RN · Sep 5, 2003

Originally posted by flowerchild
............I thought we nurses had come further than that.
What do you do and why?

Me too, flowerchild, but apparently NOT! :rolleyes:

Nurses seem to still be accepting of abuse. Many are afraid to speak up and use their voices for safety sake, for patient sake, for other nurses sake.......and so on.

I do not tolerate disrespect of my person. I don't disrespect others and I don't take their disrespect lightly. For whatever reason, people are afraid of strong personalities, but secretly are envious of the fact they wish they were strong in that way.

Many people are afraid of "conflict" because of the way they grew up. I grew up a fighter, and will die a fighter. I come from strong stock. No wimps in my family. :nono: I kiss no butt, take no shick, and give as good or as bad as I get.

Teshiee · Sep 5, 2003

I don't understand it either. It is not a part of being a nurse or in any profession to take verbal abuse. I have yet to have a MD or fellow nurse come at me like they were dropped on their head they will soon realize I am not the one to wreckon with. Titles do not impress nor supress me we are all human underneath.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 5, 2003

First thing i will do is check out the job description book. If it does not say the words "punching bag" "verbal abuse sounding board", then this will be included in my letter to my nurse manager, and then i'll work the chain of command. Years of training and schooling doesn't give anyone the right to be a horse's orifice to others, i don't care WHO they are

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2003

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004
First thing i will do is check out the job description book. If it does not say the words "punching bag" "verbal abuse sounding board", then this will be included in my letter to my nurse manager, and then i'll work the chain of command. Years of training and schooling doesn't give anyone the right to be a horse's orifice to others, i don't care WHO they are

Thank you. I was called a f------ idiot a couple of years ago by a patient's family member, as I was in the process of trying to help him with discharge plans for his Mom. I hung up on him, went straight to my Manager, told him what had happened, and informed him in NO uncertain terms would I EVER be subject to that kind of abuse again. He agreed, and I told him: "Fine, just so you know that I hung up on him", and walked out of his office.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2003

I choose my battles wisely.

I definately do not take it from docs or coworkers and management. But have to consider the source and the situation when it comes from family and patients.

Rapheal · Sep 5, 2003

I consider the source. I have taken it from irate doc's who will only cause more trouble if you call them on it. If the doc is reasonable and is just having a bad day I will try to explain to them what the rationale was for a nursing decision they did not like. Also if something like a hemoccult was not gotten when the opportunity arose and it was my fault I will apologize. This happened once and the doc was mad. I just apologized and told the doc that I had missed it. He apologized for being "short" with me.

essarge · Sep 5, 2003

While I was working last night I had a young patient (21) who had very high blood pressure (210/120). I waited and took it again about an hour later and it had not improved much even after meds.

This patient also had 6 visitors in the room (including a 2 year old). When I suggested to the nurse (I'm a nurse extern), that maybe we should ask the visitors to just come in two at a time to lessen the stimulation going on, I was told that we can't tell any visitors anything like that because it is not "customer service". I was also told that when I became a "real" nurse I'd learn that.

I was offended somewhat by that because I could see that the visitors were all asking this patient questions, watching TV, and the little one was crawling all over the bed.

Do you think I was wrong for suggesting that? What would you have done in this situation if it was your patient?